Unfair about free dining plan - Not available to DVC members

[gratton16]

So I am really just venting but wanted to find out if any of you DVC members got a free dining plan offer. I just think its crazy it is not offered to us as we pay monthly dues for our vacation home. Whats the benefit then? Seems to me I can get better deals anymore by not being a member. Just frustrated!

 

[Sammie]

You can get the same deals everyone is getting, you just can not use your points to book the stay.

Free dining is not free, you must pay rack rate for the room, no discount on that, and buy tickets, it is a package.

DVC does not offer packages.

 

[lustergirl]

If I could afford DVC then I wouldn't be worried about free dining.

 

[iluveeyore]

We love our DVC - just not happy when the free dining customers get upgraded to DVC for free! That means that those of us who are staying at our DVC during the same time should get upgraded to free dining!

 

[gratton16]

We love our DVC - just not happy when the free dining customers get upgraded to DVC for free! That means that those of us who are staying at our DVC during the same time should get upgraded to free dining!

I couldn't agree more! Kind of point. Thanks for listening.

 

[Figment2]

You, too, can get free dining. Sell or rent your points and book a room for rack rate plus tickets. As Sammie points out, DVC does not do packages.

I am very happy with my DVC and don't care about free dining.

 

[snykymom]

We love our DVC - just not happy when the free dining customers get upgraded to DVC for free! That means that those of us who are staying at our DVC during the same time should get upgraded to free dining!

Not every free dining customer got the upgrade; only certain folks staying for a particular week at some of the values got the possible upgrade. And that's because of too many people want only the values and apparently fewer want to pay for the DVC. So they move people into empty rooms in order to make more availability for the rooms that people are willing to pay for.

No different than the PIN codes that go to some people and not others. And it's no different than the fact that I may be paying more for my plane ticket than the guy in the next seat does.

But if you want to be angry, go right ahead.

 

[TLPL]

Stop your whining people! People paying rack rate and full price park tickets to get free dining. You get a hugh discount on AP and perks and get to go back year after year, isn't that enough?
I'm happy with my DVC also, and I'm just venting too.

 

[vicki_c]

I can't even believe these complaints! Since you're not paying rack rate for your room, why would Disney give you free dining?

Save your points, book a rack rate room and a ticket and get free dining.

Saying Disney owes DVC members dining is way out of line, IMO.

I'm ecstatically happy to have my DVC membership and no free dining.

 

[mdinme]

Because they value the members that they overcharge

 

[TLPL]

Disney is in the business of making money, they give away free dining to lure more business otherwise they won't get. Us DVC members are going there every year regardless. What is the finanical benifit for Disney to giving us free dining? This the true, and we all should know this when we first sign up to DVC.

 

[Cmbar]

To the OP.

No flaming here, but just think about your complaint for a minute. Why would you think that you are entitled to free dining? You haven't paid for a room and you haven't bought tickets.

Yes you pay maintenance fees, but please keep in mind why you are paying maintenance fees. This is not your "reservation" money. This is your fees for maintaining the property you own including taxes. They are not "charging" you for a room. You own the rights to the room with the large amount of money you paid to buy the points.

Finally, why would you believe that you a DVC member going during the "free dining" time are entitled to a Free dining as opposed to me a DVC member going during Christmas or Spring break??


Maybe that will make you feel better. And as others have said you ALWAYS have the option to get free dining. You just need to book a package. Of course if you were smart you would have booked a package at the values; paid diddly for your reservation with free dining AND still get to stay at a DVC resort.

Not that makes me mad! I mean if Disney would have just let me know this in our sales presentation I would have opted for book a Value and get free dining and get a free upgrade to a 1 bedroom instead!

 

[Missin'Disney]

So how often do you really think that someone who has booked a value room gets bumped to a 1-BR? I mean, it's not like you hear about that every day. At least I don't!

My feeling is that anybody buying in to DVC should weigh the fact that promos will come and go...you can't get mad when you see Disney trying to fill it's rooms during slower months. The DVC sales pitch is based on rack rates & anybody considering buying in should factor how much of a savings it actually is when you consider promos and codes that you will not be taking advantage of once you are booking on points.

 

[bytheblood]

You can get the same deal by booking at rack rate like everybody else.

 

[dopeyone]

I book the Free Dining and save points for other vacations! I don't feel Disney owes DVC'ers anything more than a room, but I will gladly accept any perks they throw our way as a bonus! If they ever did offer free dining I'd gobble it up... literally! I doubt it though!

 

[Rip]

Moral of the story, don't vent something negative about Disney on a Disney board, doll.

I understand your frustration. I do think you're probably talking about a very small number of people (relatively). It's just that reading these types of boards makes it seem like there are tons of people getting what you paid a handsome sum for for a pittance, but also getting fed for free to boot.

I think it's kinda stupid on Disney's part, but if it negatively affects timeshare sales they will start adding it in.

 

[iluveeyore]

Not every free dining customer got the upgrade; only certain folks staying for a particular week at some of the values got the possible upgrade. And that's because of too many people want only the values and apparently fewer want to pay for the DVC. So they move people into empty rooms in order to make more availability for the rooms that people are willing to pay for.

No different than the PIN codes that go to some people and not others. And it's no different than the fact that I may be paying more for my plane ticket than the guy in the next seat does.

But if you want to be angry, go right ahead.

I'm not angry, just making a point. Like I said, I love my DVC - however for this trip we did pay cash - our friends are staying with us and they had to pay cash for their portion of renting points (couldn't afford rack rate to stay with us). I'm just pointing out that we don't get 'upgrades' ever - yes, we get a few discounts, and I do have a discounted AP. We work hard every year just to be able to make our dues payment, so it would just be nice if DVC threw us a special 'perk' once in a while.
Regardless, I rave to everyone about our DVC ownership, so sorry if I sounded angry - I'm sincerely happy for those who got upgraded as they will have a vacation experience of a lifetime, and might even join us DVC'ers as members. We used to always stay at values (and I still do at least once a year on my solo trips!), and once we stayed at a one bedroom we never looked back.
Everyone has a different opinion, and it's their right to have it. I love the DIS where we can all share our feelings openly and honestly. Keep them coming!!!

 

[honeymo78]

I definitely don't miss the free dining offers. I'll gladly pay for whichever dining plan I need. The only thing I wish for is the ability to add platinum and premium packages not just ddp and dxddp.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I can see your point. But on the other hand I think it is nice DVC members are even offered the option of buying a DDP if they wish. Most guests have to buy a package and pay well before they arrive.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Seems to me I can get better deals anymore by not being a member.

That's why I'm not a member.